An ecosocialist blog

Eco-socialism

Most people assume I am in the Green party because I used to be a Geography teacher. In fact, it has rather more to do with the fact that I am a socialist. Capitalists trash the planet in pursuit of this years profits and dividends. In doing so, who suffers the consequences of environmental degradation the most? The poor and the vulnerable. Hence environmental issues are socialist issues.

This can be seen at any scale, from global to local. It is, for example, why I am so passionate about stopping capitalist interests frack up my home region. It is about the legacy we leave our children with.

On another level, consider this:

Wales Green Party leader Jake Griffiths recently visited a newly built Eco-social housing site, owned by Cadwyn Housing, to demonstrate the widespread benefits renewable technologies could bring to Wales. The Green Party is highlighting how its policies to create a sustainable economy will help to tackle social and economic issues as well as environmental ones.

Jake Griffiths said:

“This is a great example of the benefits increased investment and imaginative thinking around renewable technologies could bring to Wales. Renewables won’t just tackle environmental issues like climate change and resource depletion, they will also address many of the social problems we are faced with.

“For example, renewable energy and better insulation mean cheaper heating bills for tenants. On a wider scale this kind of thinking would massively help to reduce fuel poverty and prevent the disgraceful situation we found ourselves in last winter when 25% of Welsh households struggled to heat their homes (1).

“Converting to renewables would create thousands of green jobs, and help put people back to work. They would also give us more energy security at a time when oil and gas supplies are becoming more and more unstable. And of course they will also help us to reduce our carbon emissions and tackle climate change. This really is a win-win situation.”

Greens are calling for increased investment in social housing to support the depressed building industry, create jobs and address demand and affordability. They also argue that new housing should be regulated to introduce minimum standards.